Noiseless guitars (other than Variax) - is there anything?

thecolourbox

So I must be getting old as I've got to the point where I'm favouring function over form, and I'm fed up of the problems I have when I try to get nice looking things.

So one of these problems is noise, don't know if it's static noise or grounding or whatever but I've always been plagued with it and my ears are very sensitive to it. It's happened across two houses and many guitars and pickups so I don't think I can fix it. The only two things I've found to work are my old wireless system which eats batteries, and Variax guitars.

I've had two 300s and a 500 and because of the piezo and modelling they are silent for background noise. They sounded utterly unremarkable but adequate. They were ugly as sin but aren't we all.

I wondered if there were any other ones like that which would also enable noiseless guitaring? 

The JTV 69 in blue or red would actually look nice enough if it weren't for the naff headstock, but as long as it's not the LP shaped one, the shiny PRS looking 600, or sunburst I'd put up with their ugliness if its the only option.  But I thought there may be other options you crazy cats know of... There's some pretty good niche knowledge here after all

Thanks

ICBM

EMG pickups are probably the answer, and there are models to fit any standard Strat-type or humbucker pickup mounting. Many pros (eg David Gilmour) use them in their stage guitars for large venues with complex FX rigs because they eliminate noise problems. They also don't require the guitar strings to be grounded.

A lot of people do think they're 'sterile', but they're still an analogue pickup which is reproducing the string movement and not any kind of modelling.

barry2tone

The USP of the Fishman Fluence series for me would be a vanishing noise floor.

Anyone using them?  Noticed they are stock on some of this year's NAMM goodies.

barry2tone

And compared with a new Fender outing.

skunkwerx

I was gonna say Emg too. 

If you dont mind how they sound, they're silent as the grave, and the battery lasts me well over a year with moderatly regular playing. 

Not only that, the other bonus is they are practically built in buffers so cable lengh to pedal board isnt an issue.  

Not sure how they work going into a fuzz mind.. 

stickyfiddle

Bardens? The set I had in my Tele were extremely good - even in pubs with shitty old siring that would have my other guitars making horrible noise they were dead silent.

p90fool

Line 6 G10 wireless. Cheap, sounds good, and charges on its own docking station, so no batteries. 

Jez6345789

Yeah EMG lots of types and noiseless, to be honest I don’t get the soulless sterile thing they sound different on their own but record with them or put them in live band they really sit well in a mix and seem to find there place live.

plus loads of non sterile players have used them in lots of types of music

I like the Variax for certain stuff and you could always go for the more recent Yamaha version built on a Pacifica base rather than the cranky Tyler designs or original line 6 shapes if you hate those

thecolourbox

Silly me yes I forgot the Emgs. I've had them before, the Tele set sounded adequate. I'm ok with sterile, my playing is quite sterile to be honest.

I had the Hetfield set (I'm still not sure who he is to be honest) in my DIY guitar and they were still notar but I think that's because of my wiring to the switch. The instructions on the website were incorrect, plus I had assumed that solderless pickups required no solder but they do to connect the switch!

However on my normal day to day instrument as long as I can use the humbucker ones with a tele switch I should be good to give that a go.

Will look at the other products though as well, cheers guys

Funkfingers

The EMG Stratocaster replacement models with rod magnet polepieces sound a bit more convincing than the earlier blade pole designs.

My favourites are the SL and SL-X "Steve Lukather" types, coupled with an EMG-SPC midrange booster.

guitarfishbay

Just a point about Fishman Fluences - they need grounding, and to get all of the switching options you will need to solder to the push pull pots or an additional switch.  They will work with EMG quick connect wiring though.

ToneControl

barry2tone said:

And compared with a new Fender outing.

you probably broke the link by editing the post?

ToneControl

EMGs with the DG20 EQ, which is what Gilmour uses
or with the BTS bass and treble controls, which I have on another strat - more predictable results

or 

a Fender VG strat. Not quite the same tone as coils but very close. Also does some other clever tones. I would assume a nicer instrument than the Variax

barry2tone

ToneControl said:

barry2tone said:

And compared with a new Fender outing.

you probably broke the link by editing the post?

Thank you for pointing that out. I was so pleased when an image appeared at the 10th attempt, I forgot to check.   

ToneControl

barry2tone said:

ToneControl said:

barry2tone said:

And compared with a new Fender outing.

you probably broke the link by editing the post?

Thank you for pointing that out. I was so pleased when an image appeared at the 10th attempt, I forgot to check.   

do you have the link for me then?
;-)

barry2tone

Editing seems to kill it. Working on forum for me now.

EricTheWeary

barry2tone said:

The USP of the Fishman Fluence series for me would be a vanishing noise floor.

Anyone using them?  Noticed they are stock on some of this year's NAMM goodies.

I was watching Greg Koch talk about his signature set. Quite interesting, as I think I understand it a magnet with what is effectively a PCB around it around  than wires. 
Rechargeable battery with 300 hours life; if Greg says they sound like 50s Tele pickups without the noise he'd have a lot more idea than me. 

drippycat

I found the z coils on my G&L Comanche to be the quietest for recording with.

Greatape

Not cheap, but uber-quiet and sound good. 
https://lawingmusicalproducts.com

Anacharsis

There is the "Silent Circuit" system on the EBMM Cutlass. It requires a battery, but seems pretty effective.

Voxman

A solution that might be good for any electric guitar generating unwanted noise is the Electroharmonix Humdebugger.